Semester

Semester 1, 2020

• Connor Hayden (coordinator)

Mon 9–10 am 303-G20
Tue 9–10 am 303-G20
Wed 9–10 am 303-G20

Stability analysis in geotechnical engineering; slope stability, soil pressures on retaining structures, bearing capacity. Consolidation and settlement.
Prerequisite: CIVIL 221

Further notes

PHILOSOPHY:
This course builds on many of the concepts covered in Geomechanics 1 and develops the fundamentals for analysis of several common geotechnical problems, including consolidation settlement, slope stability, retaining walls, and foundations. Two laboratories allow students to observe real soil behaviour. This course, along with Intro. Engineering Geology and Geomechanics 1, provide the foundation required for subsequent geotechnical electives, including Geomecahnics 3, Foundation Engineering, Slope Engineering, and Ground Improvements and Geosynthetics Engineering.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The major topics to be covered in the paper are the following:

• Magnitude and rate of the consolidation settlement
• Slope stability
• Earth pressures on soil retaining structures
• Bearing capacity of shallow foundations

In covering the above material the student should:
• become familiar with the terminology and principles of geomechanics associated with each topic
• appreciate how to apply the understanding gained in geotechnical design (developed through the set assignments and the design project)
• develop a deepening appreciation of geomechanics as a coherent body of knowledge
• become aware of how geomechanics relates to other aspects of mechanics utilised in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

COURSE OUTLINE:
The main topics may include the following (with approximate time allocation):

• Magnitude and rate of the consolidation settlement (4 weeks):
Mechanism of settlement – consolidation as a time dependent process
Laboratory oedometer test
Solution to one dimensional consolidation
Application of the consolidation equation solution:
Subsurface vertical stresses generated by surface loads
Settlement estimation in layered soil deposits
Development of settlement and stresses with time
• Slope stability (3 weeks):
Slope stability in uniform soil – planar and curved failure surfaces
Special cases – vertical slope in a saturated clay, the infinite slope
Method of slices – Ordinary and Bishop methods using a spreadsheet or similar tool
• Bearing capacity of shallow foundations (2 weeks):
Mechanisms of bearing capacity failure
Terzaghi bearing capacity equation
Effect of foundation shape and embedment on foundation bearing capacity
Bearing capacity factor of safety and compensated foundations
Application to vertically loaded footing
• Earth pressures on soil retaining structures (2 weeks):
Earth pressures generated by cohesionless soil on smooth and rough walls – active and passive
Effect of earthquake loading
Earth pressures generated by cohesive soils
Earth pressure distribution in terms of soil shear strength parameters
In situ and at-rest earth pressures
Application to the stability of cantilever and sheet pile walls

TEXTS:
There is no set textbook. Lecture notes will be provided on Canvas in advance of related lectures. Supplementary texts may be recommended.

LABORATORY:
Tests will be conducted in MDLS located at B402.

Two laboratory sessions, each of 2 hours, are part of the paper:
• Consolidation testing and soil compressibility
• Triaxial compression test on dry sand

A journal (not a formal report) will be required from each student for each of the laboratory exercises. The journals will be inspected and, when satisfactory, signed-off. The laboratory sessions are an integral part of the course and satisfactory performance, i.e., attendance at the assigned laboratory sessions and the completion of the journal report, is required and will constitute up to 7% of the final grade.

A laboratory journal must contain: (i) the processed results of the laboratory tests, (ii) the tabulated results (pre-formatted blank table sheets are provided) and, where appropriate, plots of the results, and (iii) interpretive comments on the significance of the results obtained. The deadline for the journal reports is 1 week after the laboratory session, unless otherwise specified.

ASSESSMENT:
Test 1 hour 15% Tentatively April 28. Rooms to be advised. Students can collect the marked scripts at the Student Service Stall. Student ID is required to collect your script.
Group Design Project 15% A report is required from each group of 4 students. Deadline: 3 May at 11:59 pm
Quizes/Homeworks 8%
Laboratory and Journals 7% Due within one week after your lab session

Final Exam 2 hours 55% Closed book and notes. Useful charts and formulas will be provided.

No description given

Students are urged to discuss privately any impairment-related requirements face-to-face and/or in written form with the course convenor/lecturer and/or tutor.

No description given

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting his or her learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the world-wide web. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

All students enrolled at the University of Auckland are required to complete a compulsory Academic Integrity course, usually in their first semester/year of enrolment. The University of Auckland’s full guidelines on procedures and penalties for academic dishonesty are available here.